Part 14

_I Desire to be acquainted with you, because we have both fallen upon one Booke, with the same intentions to convert the_ Jewes, _though we take not one way; I desire therefore to conferre with you, to see who taketh the rightest way. You by your Translation seeme to me to prize the learned_ Jewes _writing too much, which will beget pride, and not humility in him, without which he will not turne, repent, and be saved. Therefore for his good, and also for the Christians, and for the credit of us who are Parliamentarians, I would not see them too much yeelded unto. You justly perstringe him in his thirtieth Section, wherein he talkes so wildly of his goodly Martyrs, and truly if you marke him in his Discourse upon the Sabatticall River, which where it is he knownes not, you will finde him as faulty and dangerous, if we have any of the race of the_ Thraskytes _left among us; but Sir, in that you thinke that the_ Jewes _shall now be called as a Nation, and not only by particulars, and would have them have an earthly Kingdome againe; you doe more for the ten Tribes then he would have himselfe_, Sect. 25. p. 79. 80. _and for the other two, of_ Judah, and Benjamin, _it is not so likely they should have a second Call, seeing that Christ and his Apostles preached to them, and all that were of the Election were then converted, as you may see by many texts, and after their rejection of the Gospell, their Country-men_, Paul, _and_ Peter _turned to the Gentiles. Therefore those two Tribes who Crucified our Lord, and persecuted his Apostles, are not so likely to be called againe as the ten Tribes who did neither, except some few who returned into the holy Land; neither did many of them so much as heare of it, you might see your owne sentence fulfilled then. First, the Jew was called, and then the Gentile. But now looke not for it, but for their single conversions, though numbers may be called upon one day, one Sermon as they were heretofore; but they must not exalt themselves as a Nation, for they must be ingrafted againe upon that branch, or Vine, Christ Jesus, and we must have one Shepheard, and be one flock._ _See_ Rom. 11. ver. 31. _which you cite_. Through your mercy they may also obtain mercy; _I had writ it_ (shall) _but it is only_ (may:) _see the place to which this relates_, Isa. 59. v. 19, 20, 21. _where you shall finde that all their hope is in eternalls, not in temporalls_; _and looke upon_ Rom. 11.24. _concerning the engrafting, and clearly, (unlesse you be a Millenarian) you will finde no such Nationall glory of the_ Jewes; _therefore I pray you take heed you fall not into the same snare wherein the_ Jewes _are, to looke for a temporall reigne, which you seeme to intimate, and too many were, and are of that opinion. Assure your selfe that Christ will come to such as a theife in the night, though his comming will be very glorious, yet it will be suddaine; the learned_ Jew _can finde no text punctuall in all his Booke, but whatsoever he citeth, the same Chapter makes against him, and speakes not of temporallity, but of eternity, and the new Jerusalem. I rest, desirous of your friendship_.

Octob. 5. 1650. E. S.

Postscript.

_I Have it from a good hand, that Master_ Jo. Dury _is the Translator of that Booke, and I have some Arguments to beleeve it to be so, because he seemes to be of the same minde in his Epistolicall Discourse before Mr._ Thorowgoods _pious Booke, which I have gained since I wrote this Letter. But truly if it be so, I must move Mr._ Dury _both to amend his Translation from grosse faults, and to make some retractions upon that Epistle, which upon conference I shall most plainely shew him, and in the meane time I desire him, that he will read a Booke of a most reverend and pious man, called_, The Revelation unrevealed; _and thereby I beleeve he will be convinced, and not looke for a fifth generall Monarchy upon earth; for Christ reignes now, and hath so done ever since his Ascension, and so shall to the end of the World, untill he deliver the Kingdome to the Father_.

Octob. 25. 1650.

_SIR_: _The answer to the Letter._

I Received a Letter directed, _To the Translator of Spes Israelis_, which worke thus corrected, as I here-with present to you, I confesse mine. I left it with a friend to see it printed, my selfe going into the Country; but his occasions called him from the City also, when it should have been reviewed; which is the reason that though there be many _Errata’s_ in the Booke, that they are not gathered up at the end. At my owne reading of it, I found many, and mended those I found; and now I know that it hath farre fewer then it had, and may passe tollerably; though neither I, nor what I doe, can be said faultlesse. Concerning your desire of converting the _Jewes_, it is truly Christian, and a worke that shall not loose its reward. But you say, We disagree about the way, that is very possible, for apprehensions are various, and men must thinke, not as others doe, but as themselves can, taking what is truth to them, to be their guide. But the _quære_ is, Who lights on the best way. For my part, I pretend not to any way to convert them, for I verily thinke that when it shall be done, it will be Gods worke, and not mans; as much as Pauls conversion was wholly of God; which himselfe makes the type, or patterne of the conversion of his Country-men; as Mr. _Mede_ saith upon 1 _Tim._ 1.16. in his _Fragmenta sacra_, which I know not whether they be in print, or no. You say, I prize the learned _Iewes_ writing too much, and that it will beget pride in them (Sir, pardon me, if I doe not recant till I see my errour; but then I shall freely doe it. I confesse, I doe prize the Learned, whether _Iew_, or _Gentile_, for though I am not σοφὸς, yet I am φιλόσοφος and I doe beleeve the Author of _Spes Israelis_ to be a very learned man; and I have it from those who are acquainted with him, that he is a very ingenuous and civill man; and others there are, and have been among them, not wanting a name for good learning. As for the fomenting their pride) truly that vice is of evill, that I would not cherish it, neither in myself, nor in others. But Sir, whether is a more likely way to gaine upon men, to use them civilly, and with the spirit of meeknesse, or to be supercilious and tart towards them? What got _Austine_ the Monke by using the Brittaines of _Bangor_ so Lordly as he did? and (to come to latter dayes) did Mr. _Broughton_ gaine upon a learned Rabbi, in a Conference at _Dort_, where Mr. _Forbes_ was Moderator, by his high and peremptory language? This he reaped, to set the _Iew_ at a greater distance from Christianisme, and an abating of his owne esteeme, in the judgement of wise men. As for _Menasseh’s_ Sabbaticall river, I know many Authors have said it, but whether true, or false, that is nothing to the Translator; and I am as farre from beleeving that story, as I am from the wilde opinions of Mr. _Thrask_. But these are of lesse concernment; you fall upon the maine of your judgement which relates to them, and pardon me if I deale as roundly in my answer; for I desire to have respect to Truth, and not to man. I doe firmly beleeve, and feare not to professe it; That the _Jewes_ shall be called as a Nation, both _Judah_ and _Israel_, and shall returne to their owne Land, and have an earthly Kingdome againe. For the proofe of which, I could say much, but shall now but little; and if possibly I cite any thing which _Menasseh Ben Israel_ brings for himselfe, beleeve me that I have it not from him, but from my owne observations out of Scripture, some yeares since. There is weight in that place of _Mic._ 4.8. _The first dominion, the Kingdome shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem_; and this is spoken of times after Christs incarnation, and not yet performed. See that of _Zech._ 10.6, 7, 8, 9, 10. there is _Judah_ and _Ephraim_ fore-told to be brought to _Gilead_, and _Lebanon_, and they shall so encrease, that they shall want room. Say not this was done in the returne of those now from the Captivity of _Babylon_; for those of the ten Tribes that then returned, were but some gleanings of them; and of _Judah_ it selfe, there returned but about one halfe: now God doth not promise Mountaines, and performe but Mole-hils; yea in vers. 6. _God will save and strengthen the house of_ Judah, _and of_ Joseph, _and they shall be as though I had not cast them off_. Which, if since that Prophesie, it hath been made good of _Judah_, yet be sure not of _Joseph_. And in v. 7. _They of_ Ephraim _shall be like a mighty man_, but since the captivity of _Salmanassar_ to this day, what might hath _Ephraim_ shown? yea is he not poore, weak, scattered, and unknowne? And in ver. 8. _I will gather them, and they shall encrease as they have encreased_; hath this been fulfilled of _Ephraim_? Where is his fruitfulnesse, which his name imports? much lesse hath there been a time since their great captivity, in which they have encreased to their numbers and strength, mentioned in the dayes of _Moses_, _Joshua_, _David_, _Solomon_, and under their owne Kings, after the defection from the house of _David_. See that noted place of _Ezek._ 37.16, 17. 22.24, 25. Sir, in good earnest, hath this Scripture been fulfilled? hath _Judah_ and _Ephraim_ been _but one stick in Gods hand, but one Nation, so that they shall be no more two Nations_, as in ver. 22. Surely to this day they have been from their last dispersion not only two, but many Nations. Neither will it be an answer to say, That now they are no Nation, therefore they are not two; yes, Historians report them many Nations; though perhaps scarce after the just rules of Nations. And that phrase hath not a negative, but a positive sence, not that they should be nothing, but that they should be one Nation. More-over, in ver. 24. _Judah_ and _Ephraim_ were so to be one Nation, that _David_ (that is Jesus Christ) was to be King over them: And when did _Judah_ and _Israel_ ever to this day, as a Nation acknowledge the Soveraignty of Jesus Christ? and he to be their Prince for ever, as in ver. 25. But I must not too much enlarge. I shall only adde this; That as many places of the Old, so many in the New Testament agree thereto, as _Rom._ 11. ver. 12. 15. 25, 26. 28. Though this of the _Romans_, chiefly proves one point, _sc._ their generall or Nationall conversion. Give me leave briefly to answer your objections. You say, The call of _Judah_ and _Benjamin_ is not so likely, because Christ and the Apostles preached to them already. I answer; that by their preaching, all of those living, who were elected, were converted; but after-ages have a new race, and God hath his number among them too; yea the words run high, then _All Israel shall be saved_. You say, those two Tribes who crucified Christ, not so likely to be converted. I answer, by how much their sin is greater, by so much the greater will Gods mercy be; _Et Dei novissima erunt optima, & maxima_. You say, Their conversion shall be single, that is answered already; but I adde, that _Isaiah_ is contrary to it, in _Isa._ 66.7, 8. which Chapter I doubt not but it points to times after our Saviour. As for their being engraffed upon the Vine Christ, or being brought to one sheep-fold, what doth that hinder but that they may be a Nation of Converts brought to their owne Land? You object that of _Rom._ 11.31. _That through your mercy they may obtaine mercy._ I answer, that I beleeve the maine of their conversion will be from Heaven, and extraordinary; though the _Gentiles_ by provoking them to emulation, and also by their gifts and graces, may some way be auxiliary to them. After this you are pleased to put the term _Millenarian_ upon me; which, though for what I have writ, I need not owne, yet I will not disclaime; they are not Names that affright me, but reall falsities. The term _Chiliast_, as it congregates the many odde, and false opinions of them of old, I explode; though to beleeve those thousand yeares in _Apoc._ 20. to be yet unfulfilled, that, I willingly owne. To put that sense upon them, as that they imply the thousand yeares of eternity, I can thinke little lesse of it then to be a contradiction. Againe, if the thousand yeares be the eternity in Heaven, what meanes that in ver. 3. _Till the thousand yeares be fulfilled, and after that he must be loosed for a little season_; I pray, what little season is that that is after eternity? neither doth Christs _comming suddenly in the night as a theife_, hinder, but that when he doth come, he may stay a thousand yeares. But whether that time be _ante_, _in_, or _post diem judicii_, is not my taske to determine, or maintaine. As for what you adde in the Post-script, not to looke for a fifth Monarchy, because Christ reignes now. I answer, that though he reignes _de jure_, yet not _de facto_; for expresly in Scripture the Devill is called κοσμοκράτωρ he is the grand Tyrant, and great Usurper, and the whole world κεῖται ἐν πὁ πονηρῶ yet I am farre from denying to Christ a Kingdome now in being, _sc._ Spirituall, and Invisible, but I looke for a visible one to come. In the close (as also at the beginning) you are pleased to desire my acquaintance; but Sir, I look not upon my self as a Star of so considerable a magnitude, as to present my selfe to your eyes; but if I might be so happy as to be capable to serve you really, none should be more desirous of it (both as you are a Gentleman of Learning, by which you have obliged the publick; and also a Member of that House which I so much honour) than Sir,

Novemb. 5. 1650.

_Your most humble Servant_ M. W.

SIR:

_I doe now very highly esteeme of my interest in your conversation, and thanke you very much for your kinde visitations, which I shal endeavour to repay, and desire by these you will tell me where, if you be in town; I shall continue in town till monday noone be passed, and will meet you at the Stationers, or any where else you shall appoint; very necessary, and too urgent occasions hindred my comming to —— untill last night. I have somewhat thought with my self of the faire proposition of re-printing what concernes_ Ben Israel, _the conversion and generall call of the Jewish Nation, to which I now more perceive our serious endeavours and hopes doe encline. But I must needs say, that_ Ben Israels _Booke gives very small hopes of his conversion; Of which notwithstanding neither you nor my selfe ought to despaire, for_ Saul _the learned_ Jew _from a severe Persecutor became a_ Paul, _a holy and remarkable Saint; I shall not at present enlarge my selfe unto you, least I should prove troublesome, or impertinent till things be ripened between us by a conference, but if it be necessary you should print againe before I see you, I only desire this Letter of mine should be printed. For I embrace your candor and ingenuity as much as you doe mine, and I hope love and knowledge will still encrease between us, and I shall say with the Psalmist_, Let the righteous smite me friendly, and reprove me, but let not their precious balme breake my head; _I have no desire to gaine applause of those who are without, or hazard their censure in that which more learned men, but not so loving, may say, that I write slight things, but I had rather first shew them that I can write serious things as well as slight, by translation of some part of_ Peter Galatine & Reuchlin, _which is now my travaile, as I in part shewed you; I remaine_,

Febr. 21. 1650. Your friend in the truest interest of Christian love.

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FINIS.

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_Errata maximi momenti._

In the second Epist. p. 2. l. 8. dele happy, in the 3 Epist. p. 1. l. 28. r. invironed, p. 2. l. 3. r. Carthagena, p. 3. l. 12. dele so, p. 6, l. 21. r. thy, p. 18. l. 19. r. hating, p. 19. l. 16. r. away Hoshea, p. 22. l. 23. r. Hunni, p. 23. l. 10. r. there, p. 26. l. 3. r. were, p. 40. l. 27. r. honoured _Abraham Kolorni_, with p. 44. l. 24. r. for these, p. 46. l. 16. dele the, p. 49. l. 34. & he saith, those must be nulled before.

TO HIS HIGHNESSE THE LORD PROTECTOR OF THE _COMMON-WEALTH OF_ England, Scotland, _and_ Ireland. THE HUMBLE ADDRESSES OF MENASSEH Ben Israel, _a Divine, and Doctor of PHYSICK, in behalfe of the Jewish Nation_.

_The Humble Addresses of_ Menasseh Ben Israel, _a Divine and Doctor of Physick, in behalf of the Iewish Nation_.

Give me leave, at such a juncture of time, to speak to your Highnesse, in a style and manner fitting to us _Jewes_ and our condition. It is a thing most certaine, that the great God of _Israel_, Creator of Heaven and Earth, doth give and take away Dominions and Empires, according to his owne pleasure; exalting some, and overthrowing others: who, seeing he hath the hearts of Kings in his hand, he easily moves them whithersoever himselfe pleaseth, to put in execution his Divine Commands. This, my Lord, appeares most evidently out of those words of _Daniel_, where he, rendring thanks unto God, for revealing unto him that prodigious Dreame of _Nebuchadnezar_, doth say: _Thou that removest Kings, and sets up Kings_. And else-where, _To the end the living might know, that the Highest hath dominion in Mans Kingdome, and giveth the same to whom he please_. Of the very same-minde are the _Thalmudists_ likewise, affirming that a good Government, or Governor, is a Heavenly Gift, and that there is no Governor, but is first called by God unto that dignity: and this they prove from that passage of _Exodus_: _Behold I have called Bazale’l by name_, &c. all things being governed by Divine Providence, God dispensing rewards unto Vertues, and punishment unto Vices, according to his owne good Will. This the Examples of great Monarchs make good; especially of such, who have afflicted the people of _Israel_: For none hath ever afflicted them, who hath not been by some ominous _Exit_, most heavily punished of God Almighty; as is manifest from the Histories of those Kings, _Pharaoh_, _Nebuchadnezar_, _Antiochus_, _Epiphanius_, _Pompey_, and others. And on the contrary, none ever was a Benefactor to that people, and cherished them in their Countries, who thereupon hath not presently begun very much to flourish. In so much that the Oracle to _Abraham_ (_I will blesse them that blesse thee, and curse them that curse thee_) seemeth yet daily to have its accomplishment. Hence I, one of the least among the _Hebrews_, since by experience I have found, that through Gods great bounty toward us, many considerable and eminent persons both for Piety and Power, are moved with sincere and inward pitty and compassion towards us, and do comfort us concerning the approaching deliverance of _Israel_, could not but for my self, and in the behalf of my Countrey men, make this my humble addresse to your Highness, and beseech you for Gods sake, that ye would, according to that Piety and Power wherein you are eminent beyond others, vouchsafe to grant, that the Great and Glorious Name of the Lord our God may be extolled, and solemnly worshiped and praised by us through all the bounds of this Common-wealth; and to grant us place in your Countrey, that we may have our Synagogues, and free exercise of our Religion. I nothing doubting, but that your Clemency will easily grant this most equitable Petition of ours. Pagans have of old, out of reverence to the God of _Israel_; & the esteem they had to his people, granted most willingly free liberty, even to apostated _Jewes_; as _Onias_ the High Priest, to build another Temple in their Countrey, like unto that at _Jerusalem_: how much more then may we, that are not Apostate or runagate _Iewes_, hope it from your Highnesse and your Christian Councill, since you have so great knowledge of, and adore the same one onely God of _Israel_, together with us. Besides, it increases our confidence of your bounty towards us, in that so soon as ever the rumour of that most wished-for liberty, that ye were a thinking to grant us, was made known unto our Countrey-men; I, in the name of my Nation, the _Iewes_, that live in _Holland_, did congratulate and entertaine their Excellencies, the Ambassadors of _England_; who were received in our Synagogue with as great pomp and applause, Hymns and cheerfulnesse of minde, as ever any Soveraigne Prince was. For our people did in their owne mindes presage, that the Kingly Government being now changed into that of a Common-wealth, the antient hatred towards them, would also be changed into good-will: that those rigorous Laws (if any there be yet extant, made under the Kings) against so innocent a people, would happily be repealed. So that we hope now for better from your gentleness, & goodness, since, from the beginning of your Government of this Common-wealth, your Highnesse hath professed much respect, and favour towards us. Wherefore I humbly entreat your Highnesse, that you would with a gracious eye have regard unto us, and our Petition, and grant unto us, as you have done unto others, free exercise of our Religion, that we may have our Synagogues, and keep our own publick worship, as our brethren doe in _Italy_, _Germany_, _Poland_, and many other places, and we shall pray for the happinesse and Peace of this your much renowned and puissant Common-wealth.

A DECLARATION TO THE Common-wealth of England,

BY

_Rabbi Menasseh Ben_ ISRAEL, shewing the Motives of his coming into England.

_Having some yeares since often perceived that in this Nation, God hath a People, that is very tender-hearted, and well-wishing to our sore-afflicted Nation; Yea, I my selfe having some Experience thereof, in divers Eminent persons, excelling both in Piety and Learning: I thought with my-self, I should do no small service to my owne Nation, as also to the People and Inhabitants of this Common-wealth, if by humble addresses to the late Honourable Parliament, I might obtaine a safe-Conduct once to transport my selfe thither. Which I having done, and according to my desire, received a most kinde and satisfactory Answer, I now am come. And to the end all Men may know the true Motives and Intent of this my coming, I shall briefly comprehend and deliver them in these particulars._

First and formost, _my Intention is to try, is by Gods good hand over me, I may obtaine here for my Nation the Liberty of a free and publick Synagogue, wherein we may daily call upon the Lord our God, that once he may be pleased to remember his Mercies and Promises done to our Fore fathers, forgiving our trespasses, and restoring us once againe into our fathers Inheritance; and besides to sue also for a blessing upon this Nation, and People of_ England, _for receiving us into their bosomes, and comforting_ Sion _in her distresse_.